Fellow citizens: Many of you have grown more out of sorts, crankier, or just plain dumber. We know your sense of humor has fled to less hostile shores.
Our latest evidence came from your reaction to a corporate stunt pulled in the name of good fun on April Fools’ day.
Taco Bell, a restaurant-chain subsidiary of PepsiCo noted otherwise for fast food and making money, decided to run bogus full-page ads in many newspapers, including the Tribune, announcing the purchase of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia.
The ad noted that the purchase would help reduce the national debt and that the country’s historic symbol would now be called the “Taco Liberty Bell.”
Those on whom subtlety is lost were outraged that the government would sell a national treasure, while others thought the commercial joke in bad taste. Taco Bell received value for its investment by gaining nationwide publicity.
The company didn’t apologize for the prank, but did promise to “make amends” by donating $50,000 towards preserving the Liberty Bell.
